Cost of Living Comparison Between Chiang Mai and Timaru Cost of Living Comparison Between Chiang Mai and Timaru

Monthly Cost of Living

A single person spends $869 per month in Chiang Mai vs $2,030 in Timaru, rent included.

A couple spends around $1,362 per month in Chiang Mai vs $3,179 in Timaru, rent included.

A family of three spends $1,855 per month in Chiang Mai vs $4,329 in Timaru, rent included.

Chiang Mai is about 57% cheaper than Timaru, driven mainly by Eating Out.

Chiang Mai sits 35% below the global median, while Timaru is 51% above – they fall on opposite sides of the world average.

Meal at Budget Restaurant

$1.98 ฿64.3

$14.90 NZ$25.44

-86.71%

Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range

$18.80 ฿612

$79.9 NZ$136

-76.47%

Fast Food Meal (McDonalds, etc)

$7.75 ฿252

$9.78 NZ$16.70

-20.76%

Cappuccino

$1.92 ฿62.5

$3.37 NZ$5.76

-43.03%

Coke/Pepsi/Fanta/Sprite (0.33 liter bottle)

$0.79 ฿25.79

$2.24 NZ$3.82

-64.73%

Water (0.33 liter bottle)

$0.36 ฿11.62

$1.91 NZ$3.26

-81.15%

Local Beer (0.5 liter draught)

$2.21 ฿72.1

$5.95 NZ$10.17

-62.86%

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$3.66 ฿119

$6.11 NZ$10.44

-40.10%

Milk (1 liter)

$1.65 ฿53.8

$1.62 NZ$2.77

1.85%

White Bread (500g)

$1.63 ฿53.2

$1.96 NZ$3.36

-16.84%

Rice (white) (1kg)

$1.19 ฿38.86

$1.22 NZ$2.09

-2.46%

Eggs

$2.00 ฿65.1

$6.55 NZ$11.19

-69.47%

Local Cheese (1kg)

$15.98 ฿520

$9.94 NZ$16.97

60.76%

Chicken Fillets (1kg)

$3.03 ฿98.5

$10.60 NZ$18.10

-71.42%

Beef Round Steak (1kg)

$10.86 ฿354

$16.95 NZ$28.95

-35.93%

Apples (1kg)

$2.76 ฿90.0

$2.58 NZ$4.40

6.98%

Banana (1kg)

$1.18 ฿38.42

$2.43 NZ$4.15

-51.44%

Oranges (1kg)

$1.64 ฿53.5

$3.06 NZ$5.23

-46.41%

Tomato (1kg)

$1.52 ฿49.51

$5.69 NZ$9.71

-73.29%

Potato (1kg)

$1.38 ฿45.10

$2.69 NZ$4.60

-48.70%

Onion (1kg)

$1.19 ฿38.84

$2.36 NZ$4.03

-49.58%

Lettuce (1 head)

$0.70 ฿22.86

$2.90 NZ$4.95

-75.86%

Water (1.5 liter bottle)

$0.56 ฿18.13

$1.16 NZ$1.98

-51.72%

Cigarettes 20 Pack (Marlboro, Camel)

$4.58 ฿149

$28.99 NZ$49.50

-84.20%

Wine (Bottle)

$16.56 ฿539

$7.25 NZ$12.38

128.41%

Local Beer (0.5 liter bottle)

$1.83 ฿59.5

$4.61 NZ$7.88

-60.30%

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$3.20 ฿104

$7.06 NZ$12.06

-54.67%

One-way Ticket (Public Transport)

$0.88 ฿28.56

$2.07 NZ$3.54

-57.49%

Public Transport Monthly Pass (Regular Price)

$18.72 ฿610

$65.2 NZ$111

-71.27%

Taxi Start (Normal Tariff)

$1.36 ฿44.16

$2.84 NZ$4.85

-52.11%

Taxi (Normal Tariff) (1km)

$1.34 ฿43.65

$1.11 NZ$1.89

20.72%

Taxi 1hour Waiting (Normal Tariff)

$7.84 ฿256

$31.80 NZ$54.3

-75.35%

Gasoline (1 liter)

$1.23 ฿39.92

$1.63 NZ$2.78

-24.54%

Midsize Hatchback 1.4l (Volkswagen Golf, Toyota Prius, Honda Civic, etc)

$21.6K ฿704.3K

$29.6K NZ$50.5K

-26.95%

Compact Sedan 1.6l (Toyota Corolla, Mazda3, Kia K4, Hyundai Elantra, etc)

$22.5K ฿734.3K

$17.7K NZ$30.3K

27.21%

Utilities for 2 People in 2-bedroom Apartment (Heating, Electricity, Gas, Water, Garbage) (85m2)

$70.5 ฿2,298

$188 NZ$320

-62.39%

SIM Card Monthly Plan (Calls and 10GB+ Data)

$13.68 ฿445

$24.29 NZ$41.47

-43.68%

Internet (50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)

$17.45 ฿568

$59.6 NZ$102

-70.73%

Gym Membership (Monthly)

$41.33 ฿1,346

$36.94 NZ$63.1

11.88%

Tennis Court (1 Hour on Weekend)

$6.96 ฿227

$12.21 NZ$20.85

-43.00%

Cinema Ticket

$5.77 ฿188

$13.19 NZ$22.53

-56.25%

Preschool or Kindergarten, Full Day, Private, 1 Child (Monthly)

$307 ฿10.0K

$486 NZ$830

-36.86%

International Primary School, 1 Child (Yearly)

$14.6K ฿475.9K

$7,027 NZ$12.0K

107.91%

Jeans (Levis 501 Or Similar)

$55.8 ฿1,817

$89.0 NZ$152

-37.34%

Summer Dress (H&M, Zara, etc)

$26.21 ฿854

$50.2 NZ$85.7

-47.77%

Sport Shoes (Adidas, Nike)

$85.8 ฿2,793

$95.2 NZ$163

-9.93%

Men's Leather Business Shoes

$72.2 ฿2,353

$276 NZ$471

-73.78%

1-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$430 ฿14.0K

$962 NZ$1,642

-55.31%

1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$239 ฿7,774

$773 NZ$1,321

-69.14%

3-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$817 ฿26.6K

$1,570 NZ$2,681

-47.95%

3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$511 ฿16.6K

$1,436 NZ$2,452

-64.43%

Buy Apartment in City Center (m2)

$1,983 ฿64.6K

$4,455 NZ$7,608

-55.49%

Buy Apartment Outside City Center (m2)

$1,484 ฿48.3K

$3,338 NZ$5,700

-55.55%

Average Monthly Net Salary (After Tax)

$619 ฿20.2K

20-Year Fixed Mortgage Interest Rate (Annual %)

6.74

-25.82%

CityCost data is based on AI and user input – minor inaccuracies may occur.

Last update for Chiang Mai: June 7, 2026

Last update for Timaru: June 9, 2026

Cost Breakdown

A central one-bedroom costs $430 in Chiang Mai versus $962 in Timaru. Rent is usually the largest line item in a monthly budget, so the gap here sets the tone for the overall comparison.

A mid-range dinner for two costs $19.00 in Chiang Mai versus $80.0 in Timaru. Monthly groceries follow the same trend: $241 vs $359 – making Chiang Mai the more affordable choice for daily food spending.

City Median Internet Speeds Comparison (Updated April 2026)

The chart highlights the Precision Threshold for mobile and fixed broadband internet speeds, updated quarterly.

Digital Nomad Cost of Living Index

Chiang Mai vs Timaru: Cost of Living - Frequently Asked Questions

Timaru costs about 134% more than Chiang Mai, with the gap driven mainly by Eating Out. That's enough to noticeably affect everyday spending and lifestyle for anyone choosing between the two.

For a comfortable life, plan on about $1,303 per month in Chiang Mai and $3,044 in Timaru. That covers rent, food, utilities, transport, and enough left over to feel settled – not just surviving.

Rent is clearly cheaper in Chiang Mai, especially for central apartments. Housing is actually the single biggest factor behind the overall cost gap between these two cities.

Kindergarten costs $307 per month in Chiang Mai and $486 in Timaru. For families with young kids, this one expense can tip the scales when choosing between the two cities.

Groceries cost about 49% more in Timaru, though it depends on what you buy. Local produce may be comparable; imported and premium items show the biggest price gap.

A $1,000 monthly budget goes further in Chiang Mai, where all-in costs run around $869, than in Timaru at $2,030. In Chiang Mai it covers expenses comfortably, while in Timaru it requires careful planning or may not stretch far enough.

For digital nomads, it depends on budget. Chiang Mai costs $869 versus $2,030 in Timaru. Both have workable remote work infrastructure, but the cost gap matters when income varies month to month.

Both have safer and rougher neighborhoods, but overall safety is comparable to other large cities. Neighborhood choice matters more than the city-level comparison – central, well-trafficked areas feel secure in both.

If budget matters most, go with Chiang Mai. If higher salaries, better infrastructure, or specific career opportunities are the priority, Timaru makes more sense. Both are solid long-term options with distinct trade-offs.